Crazy Prophet dominates British Columbia Cup Classic
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Crazy Prophet was a decisive winner over Fifer in the $50,000 British Columbia Cup Classic for 3-year-olds and up at Hastings on Sunday. He paid $4.30 for his 3 1/2-length win in the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up bred or sired in British Columbia or Washington.
Sunday was the final day of racing at Hastings this year. Opening day next year will be on April 16. The 53-day meet will conclude on Oct. 22.
With Dennis Araujo aboard, Crazy Prophet saved ground while stalking Fifer, who broke sharply and quickly opened up a clear lead. Fifer posted honest interior fractions of 23.95 and 47.91 seconds over a track rated sloppy. Approaching the quarter pole, Araujo moved Crazy Prophet off the rail to get a clear path at Fifer. He collared the leader on the stretch turn, took over the lead heading into the stretch, and then drew off. Twistgrips made a menacing move on the final turn but hung late and finished third.
“My colt really likes this kind of track,” said Araujo. “I was pretty confident he was going to win when I got him off the rail. When I asked him to go he really responded.”
Trained by John Snow, Crazy Prophet posted a final time of 1:51.14
A 3-year-old son of Rosberg, Crazy Prophet is owned by Shamrock Racing Stable, Ltd.
In the B.C. Cup Distaff, heavily favored Touching Promise paid $2.80 for her hard-fought win over Sailingforthesun.
With Amadeo Perez aboard, Touching Promise broke alertly from the rail before Perez eased her into a stalking position behind Sailingforthesun and Fire Beauty, who dueled through quick interior fractions in the 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares bred or sired in B.C. or Washington.
She engaged Sailingforthesun at the six-furlong mark, and the pair paid raced as a team until Touching Promise asserted her authority late. The final margin was 1 1/2 lengths. Despite Jeff Burningham dropping his whip at the three-sixteenths pole, Sailingforthesun held on gamely to hold off Locket by a head for second.
The final time was 1:51.49.
Touching Promise is trained by Barbara Heads and owned by Russell J. and Lois Bennett.
Including the $30,500 she received for winning the Distaff, Touching Promise, a homebred daughter of Touch Gold, has career earnings of $437,356.